CURRENT ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN TREATMENT OF ADULTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are among the most prodigious public health problems. The study scrutinizes issues and challenges for adults in the treatment of SUDs in the Pakistani context. Exploratory research design was used.  Data was gathered from two major rehabilitation centers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.  Sample was selected using purposive sampling technique. Focus Group 
Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 8`participants in each group. SUDs are accompanying with numerous medical, psychiatric, psychological, spiritual, economic, social, family, and legal problems that compromise individual ability to adjoin their goals, such as maintaining healthy relationships, gaining and retaining employment, achieving self-sufficiency, and sustaining family well-being.  These problems create a crucial burden for the afflicted individuals, their families, and society. The four major themes emerged that were related to the challenges pertaining to personal, social, legal and financial themes in treatment of adults with SUDs with several sub themes i.e. heredity, stage of development, feelings of deprivation, submissive behavior , feelings of inadequacy, 
feelings of left out, self-neglect, aimlessness, social isolation, social pressure, fear of separation/divorce, fear of expelling from home, helplessness, negative thoughts, financial dependency, emotional burden and struggle with self-control. There is a lack of research that concentrates on the current problems and difficulties in treating SUDs in adults. Therefore, a revised, culturally relevant, and evidence-based standardized approach in the Urdu language is imperative to improve access to care, and reduce the stigma experienced by people with SUDs.